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 Oleg was born on July 9th, 1966, in Leningrad, in a musical family. His father was a jazz drummer. He started playing drums at the age of eight, in the school of music. In 1980, when Oleg was only 15 years of age, he met Alexander Liapin, who was a lead guitarist of the famous Russian Rock Group “Akvarium”. When he heard Oleg playing drums, he immediately invited him to join his Rock Band “Televizor”. Together they started to perform in a well known Leningrad Rock Club. In 1983, Oleg’s first appearance on the professional stage took place at the internationally known Jazz Festival "The Rhythms of Autumn" that took place in Leningrad. In 1983 the music record of this festival was released. David Goloshekin paid attention to the performance of a young talented drummer and Oleg was offered an opportunity to work with David Goloshekin Jazz Band. From this moment, the career of a great jazz performe started. The ray of glory didn't stop him from the constant study. In 1983, Oleg entered Musorgsky Conservatory of Music, in Leningrad, where he spent four intensive years of studying music as well as other disciplines. He was the youngest Jazz drummer in Russia, and was considered one of the best. He appeared as a lead drummer with Musorgsky Conservatory of Music, Jazz Orchestra.From 1984 until 1987, Oleg played with Igor Butman Jazz Quintet. In 1988 Oleg performed with a famous American Jazz Saxophonist, Richie Cole, while he was on tour in Russia.At the end of 1988 he moved to Moscow and starred playing in an uprising Jazz club called "Blue Bird ", as a leading drummer, performed with John Feddis quartet, Billy Taylor, Grover Washington, and Pat Metheny. In 1990 he moved to the USA. In 1990 Oleg studied and took private classes on campus of Berkley College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1991 he performed with Monty Alexander. During all these years he played with Joe Lock, Eddie Gomez, Andy Lovern. In 1997, together with Igor Butman, he released his own music record “Nostalgie”. In the early 1998, Oleg went on tour through Russia, “Four brothers” After numerous successful performances during that tour, a new record under the same name was released. The following three years Oleg spent acquiring new techniques, developing new skills, establishing new musical contacts, meeting interesting musicians, taking private lessons from some of the famous and talented drummers and percussionists from around the world. In 2001, Oleg went to Moscow, to perform in his own Jazz Quartet, with Crag Handy on saxophone. In the summer of 2001, he performed with a well known guitarist, Mark Whitfield in Moscow, Russia. At the end of 2001, Vincent Herring, a famous alto-saxophonist, performed with Oleg at, “Le Club”, Moscow Jazz club, as well as in “Up Over Jazz Café”, in New York City. In the early 2002, Oleg was invited to participate and perform in the concert dedicated to the 2nd Anniversary of the Jazz Radio Station, called “Ermitazh”, in St. Petersburg. During the same tour, several concerts were performed in Moscow’s Jazz Club, “Le Club”, with his Jazz Trio, starring Mark Whitfield – guitar, and Sam Yahel – organ. In 2002, Oleg has become a leader of his own “Oleg Butman Jazz Quartet”, with which he performed on many concert stages within the United States. His band is the main accompaniment to a well-known folk, jazz singer and performer, Svetlana Portnyanskaya. During the same year, Valery Ponamorev has invited Oleg to create a wonderful mix of talented musicians for a collaboration and joint performances in the clubs of New York City. By the end of year 2002, Oleg has sensed his internal resources to become a promoter and event manager for some of the leading and talented jazz musicians in New York. He is continuing to deliver the art of jazz to the ethnic community of the Russian population which is over 1 million people now. The “De Ribas Jazz Club”, which is located in the heart of the Russian community in New York City, has welcomed such musical stars as Joe Lock, Randy Bracker, Lenny White, Mark Whitfield, Jann Parker, Richie Cole, Ron Afiff, Charene Dawn, to name a few. In the spring of 2003, Oleg also has toured with Ron Afiff and Essiet Essiet across the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean, on a jazz cruise for a prestigious Voyage Tour Company. On the 27th of May, Oleg Butman and his band were invited to perform for a celebration during the 300th Anniversary of St. Petersburg, Russia. The concerts were held in Hermitage Museum. He has become a well known performer, and one of the most wanted and talented jazz drummers in the “City That Never Sleeps”. |
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